Ratchet mechanism



July; 2 1925.

- T. J. FEGLEY ET AL RATCHET MECHANISM Filed arch 1923 I fnvamforsr Patented July 2 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT FIC -r.

THOMAS-J. FEGLEY AND snonen o. LEOIOLD, or 'PHILADELFHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNORS TO NORTH BROS MFG 00., or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- .EOBATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

RA'ICHET MECHANISM.

' Application filed March so, 1923. Serial 110.328,?70.

v To all whom it may concern: v Be it known thatwe, THOMAS J. .F1GLEY and GEORGE O. LnoPoLn, .C1t1ZQ-I1S of the United States, residing in Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements 1n Ratchet Mechanism, of which I the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to certain improvements in the construction ofratchet mech-l anism that is used especially in-connecti'on with hand ,tools, such as braces; screw pawls 6.

drivers; drills; etc. -The presentinvention is particularly adapted for hand braces.

One object of the invention is to provide a construction. consisting of comparatively few parts, which can be readily assembled.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a ball thrust bearing for the spindle and to provide means for gainingaccess to the spindle from the upper end.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig.1 is a side view of a portion of a brace and the head that encloses the ratchet mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a head on the line 22, Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the line Fig. dis a detached sectional view of the head on the line 44, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detached sectional view of parts of the mechanisrni; I

Fig. 6 is a detached perspective view, showing the pawls and the spring shifter; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the lower member of an ordinary hand brace. 2 is a head having a lateral extension 3 to which,

the member 1 is secured. The head is in the form of a shell enclosing the ratchet mech anism. In the shell is a detachable bushing 4:, slotted at 5 for the reception of the These pawls are made as shown in Fig. 6. Each pawl has a body portion 7 and an extension 8. The extension of one pawl is opposite the extension of the other pawl. Each pawl has lateral pivot members 9, which rest in notches 10in the bushupon the pawls. The shifter has a pin 12 projecting the rear and engaging a shifter vertical sectional view of the .bar 13 having its bearings in the projection 3 of the head 2. The pin 12 extends through the slot 1 1 in the shell. In the walls of the slot are notches 15. On the shifter are probushing 4; On this spindle are -ratchet teeth 18 with which the pawls engage. j ,On the outer end of the spindle 17.7is, achuck19, of j any suitable type, for holding the screw driver, or drill bit. On the inner end of the spindle is aball bearing illustrated in the enlarged view, Fig. 7.. In the end ofthe spindle is an, annular groove 20. In the ring 21 isan annular groove Located in these grooves are-balls 22. The ringis held to the end of the spindle by a screw 23.

The bushing 4 is held from turning in the head 2 by means of a. key 2 1, which is adapted to a keyway 25 formed in the inner wall of the head and a keyway 26 formed in the wallofthe bushing The bushing 4 has a shoulder 27 at its lower end fitting against the head 2. At the upper end of the'head is a screw thread to receive the threaded cap 28. Between the cap and th'e'upper end of the bushing ,is a plate 29 havinga ,projection 30, which extends into the keyway 25, preventing the plate turning when, the spindle is turned. The spindle 17 is reduced at 31. This reduced portion extends through a plug 32 screwed into the lower end of the head 2 so that the spindle is confined between this plug and the cap. The body of theychuck 19 is secured to the reduced portion of the spindle by a pin 33, or other fastening.

The operation of the ratchet mechanism is as follows: When it is desired to turn the tool intermittently in one direction, the shifter bar is depressed, moving one ofthe pawlsintoengagement with the ratchet teeth '18 and lifting theother pawl clear of the ratchetteeth.

When it is'desired to movethe spindle intermittently in the opposite direction, the shifter bar is moved to the other extreme position, holding out the first mentioned pawl and yieldingly' holding the other pawl in engagement with'the ratchet teeth.

When it is desired to lock the spindle to e. h a the Shifter bar is moved to the ratchet teetlf o' fthe spindle a" shifter bearcentral" position, which allpws the teeth be engaged by both pawls, then the spindle can be rotated in either direction Withthe heath r I When it desired to remove the spindle from the head, all that is necessary is to unscrew the'plug and withdraw the spindle.

In order to gain access to the u perenct of the spindle, all that is necessary is to remove the cap 28. I

V Ve elaim:

1. The, combination in ratchet mechanism,

of a hollow; head a bushing secured iii the head, said bushing: being slotted atone side from end to end, the bushing having notches at each end ate'acli side of the slot; a spindle mounted in the bushing, said spindle having ratchetteeth means for holding the spindle in position;- pawls pivotally mounted 'in'tlie' notches and arrang'ed to engage the upo'nfthe p'2 V1%; i rd ashitter bar connected to th'e' shi'ffer and mounted in the I l v Theeoi'nbination in ratehet mechanism, a head, said'head having a screw thread at one endgja Bushing located in the head andfslot'ted atone side; a spindle located in the bushing and havingratohet teethg-a plug screwedintjo one end of the liead; a; cap screwed intothe other endof the head of the head and through which the spindle extends; a cap screwed;- into," the opposite end of the head; pawl's pivotally mounted in the notches of the bushing and arranged to engage the" ratchet teeth of the spindle; a

shifter bearing on the pawls; and a shifter bar conneote'd'to; theshifter,

4. The combination of a head having a latera l ex tension; a flanged bushing mounted in the head and slotted at one side; a longitudinal key extending through key- Ways in the head and in the bushing and prevent ng the bushing turning in the head;

a spindle, having ratchet teeth, mounted in the bushing, said spind le having a reduced portion at one end; a plug having an opening through wliichlthe reduced portion of the spindle extends, said plug being se cured to oneend ofthe head; a cat secured to the opposite end of" the head pawls pivotally mounted in the slot of the bushing g a pri g sh ft r ng a pi t reo nd. a shifter bar connected to the pin, said shifter bar having its hearings in the extension of the head. p

5. The combination in ratchet mechan'isnii,

ofa head; a slotted bushing mounted in the.

head and having a flange at its lower end engag ng a shoulder 111 the head; a spindle mounted in the bushing, said spindle having ratchet teeth; a plug secured to one end of the head and a cap secured to the opposite end of the head and holdingthe spindle in position :1 pawls mountedon the bushing and arranged'to engage the teeth of the spindle; a spring shifter for the pawls havingla rearwardly extending pin; a shitter' bar engaged by the pin'i a ball bearing on theinner end of the spindle; a plate between theball bearing andthe cap; and means for preventing the plate turning with the spindle. v I r p v THOhM-lS J', H GEORGE, O'. LEOPOLD..- 

